and Human Services (HHS)
NINDS TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR CLINICAL SCIENTISTS
Release Date: May 9, 2001 (Superceded by NOT-NS-01-011)
NOTICE: NOT-NS-01-008
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
PURPOSE
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is committed to
the career development of clinically trained research scientists. At its September
2000 meeting, the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NANDS) Council
approved an initiative to ensure the continued development of the clinician scientist
research workforce in the neurological sciences. The goals of the initiative are to:
(1) Encourage the interest of potential clinician scientists early in their
education, (2) Accelerate entry to independent research, (3) Encourage translational
research, and (4) Foster research training by especially competent laboratories.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Several programs described in this Policy Notice are new and
therefore are accompanied by specific program announcements that are being
simultaneously published in this issue of the NIH Guide. In addition, a separate
Policy Notice (NS-02-001) describing the new K-awards salary levels and research
costs is being published in this issue of the NIH Guide. These levels, which are
reflected below, take effect for awards in FY 2002.
Contributions to Research by Clinician Scientists:
There are several ways in which clinician scientists contribute to the goal of
reducing the burden of neurological disorders: (1) Recognition of basic science
advances which could be pertinent to neurological disorders, (2) Using clinical
observations to frame research design and strategy, (3) Conduct of translational,
disease-focused research, designed to apply discoveries about basic neurobiology to
the problems of neurological disorders, (4) Conduct of basic research and/or patient-
oriented clinical research, (5) Assisting basic scientists in the design of studies
related to human neurological illness, (6) Educating clinicians in the
neurobiological basis of neurological disorders.
Training and Career Development Programs for Clinician Scientists:
The following programs provide a series of mechanism for different stages of training
career development. These include: A. Programs designed for medical student
training, B. Research fellowships before, during, and after residency training, and
C. Post-residency clinician scientist career development awards.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For detailed program descriptions and access to specific program
announcements cited below, see the NINDS Training and Career Development website:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/research_training.htm
A. PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR MEDICAL STUDENT TRAINING
Medical Student Summer Research Program (T35):
The goal of this short-term institutional training (T35) program is to encourage
interest in clinical neuroscience and research. In conjunction with suitable
mentoring, the program will inform students of clinical neuroscience careers, and
educate them in patterns of research support. The program will be administered
jointly by a neurology department and one or more basic science departments, and will
require a clinical education component and a research career education component.
The program is designed to produce highly competitive students to enter the Medical
Student Scholars Program as well as the MD/PhD Fellowship program. A program
announcement is being published in this issue of the NIH Guide.
Medical Student Scholars Program (F31):
Th goal of this individual fellowship (F31) program is to encourage interest in
clinical neuroscience, and to foster early and intensive research training. Programs
for support of research during medical school will include 1-2 years of mentored
research, beginning after 2 years of medical school. Training may occur at different
sites in order to provide support for students who may be attending medical schools
with comparatively less strength in basic or clinical neuroscience research. Strong
mentoring is critical to the success of this program. The training is designed to
provide extensive research experience during medical school to especially able
candidates who are likely to pursue subsequent residency training in neurology or
neurological surgery. The program will also support a national annual meeting to
foster interactions and interest. A program announcement is being published in this
issue of the NIH Guide.
Dual-Degree Predoctoral Fellowships for Training Clinician-Scientists (F30):
The enormous complexity of neurological sciences today prevents the standard course
of study at most medical schools from providing the experience necessary to develop
researchers. Since scientists who are both physicians and trained investigators play
a vital role in helping to bring the highest scientific standards into basic and
clinical research settings, this program is designed to combine training for the MD
degree with extensive research experience of the PhD degree. The NINDS F30 program
is designed to help ensure that highly trained physician/scientists will be available
in adequate numbers and in the appropriate research areas and fields to meet the
Nation"s needs in neurological disorders research. The applicant must be enrolled in
an MD program at an approved medical school, accepted in a related scientific PhD or
MPH program, and supervised by a mentor. The sponsoring institution must have staff
and facilities available on site to provide a suitable environment for performing
high-quality research training. The PhD or MPH phase of the program may be conducted
outside of the sponsoring institution, e.g., Federal laboratory including the NIH
intramural program. Support may be requested for up to 6 years. The NRSA stipends,
tuition, and institutional support costs vary from year to year. A program
announcement is being published in this issue of the NIH Guide.
B. RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER RESIDENCY TRAINING
Individual National Research Service Postdoctoral Awards (F32):
The F32 provides support for postdoctoral research training in the basic and clinical
neurological sciences. The training plan should provide an opportunity for the
trainees to broaden their research background or to extend their potential for
research in neurological disorders. Prospective fellows must be accepted by a
sponsor who will supervise the research and training experience. The setting may be
academic or non-academic, including the NIH. The application must document that
staff and facilities are available to provide a high-quality training opportunity.
The application should emphasize opportunities for research training and broadening
scientific competence. Applicants must agree to undertake a minimum of 2 years of
biomedical research. The NRSA stipends, tuition, and institutional support costs
vary from year to year.
NINDS Career Transition Award (K22):
The goal of this program is to enable outstanding individuals to obtain a research
training experience in the NINDS Division of Intramural Research (DIRP) and to
facilitate their successful transition to an extramural environment as independent
researchers. The award will provide 2-3 years of support for research training in
the NINDS DIRP followed by 2-3 years of support for an independent research project
in an extramural institution. The combined duration cannot exceed 5 years. It is
anticipated that awardees will subsequently obtain research project grants such as
the R01 to support the continuation of their work. To obtain support for the
extramural phase, candidates must have a formal tenure-rack (or equivalent) offer in
an extramural institution. During the extramural phase, the candidate must spend a
minimum of 75% of full-time professional effort conducting research and research
career development activities. Support during the intramural phase will include an
intramural fellowship stipend, based on the candidate"s years of postdoctoral
experience and commensurate with the NINDS intramural salary structure. Up to
$75,000 can be requested, plus research expenses (see program announcement). During
the extramural support phase, the NINDS will provide salary for the award recipient
of up to $85,000 per year, as well as research costs. The combined salary and
research costs requested may not exceed $150,000 (direct costs).
C. POST-RESIDENCY CLINICIAN SCIENTIST CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08):
The K08 is designed to recruit and prepare clinically trained persons for research
careers in areas of basic or clinical science related to neurological disorders. The
program will provide support for a period of mentored research for clinically trained
individuals with strong potential to develop into outstanding basic or clinical
research scientists. The program supports applicants who are within 3 years of
completing their clinical training, which is defined as residency training, and if
applicable, an additional year of clinical fellowship. The candidate must identify a
mentor with extensive research experience and must devote at least 75% of his or her
time and effort to research and career development activities. To accommodate
neurosurgeons, who need significant clinical activity to maintain their surgical
skills, NINDS will accept 50% time commitment to the award. This award will provide
support for up to 5 years. The K08 award provides up to $85,000 per year of salary
support, and up to $50,000 for research expenses. All mentored career development
award recipients will be expected to attend an annual meeting designated by NINDS.
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23):
The K23 supports the career development of investigators who have made a commitment
to focus their research endeavors on research in neurological disorders. This
mechanism provides support for a period of supervised study and research for
clinically trained professionals who have the potential to develop into productive
clinical investigators focusing on patient-oriented research. The objective is to
encourage research-oriented clinicians to develop independent research skills and
gain experience in advanced methods and experimental approaches that will allow them
to conduct patient-oriented research, and to capitalize on the discoveries of
neuroscience research and translate them to clinical settings. Candidates must have
completed their clinical training, including specialty and, if applicable,
subspecialty training prior to receiving an award. Candidates must identify a mentor
with extensive research experience and must be willing to spend a minimum of 75% of
full-time professional effort in research career development and clinical research
activities. Support under this award may extend to 5 years. The K23 award provides
up to $85,000 per year of salary support, and up to $50,000 for research expenses.
All mentored career development award recipients will be invited to attend an annual
meeting at the NINDS.
Independent Scientist Award (K02):
The K02 supports the development of clinically trained neuroscientists whose primary
appointment is in a clinical department. This award provides specialized study
opportunities for health professionals who are committed to a career in neuroscience
research and have demonstrated their ability to conduct independent research. The
candidate must devote a minimum of 75% of his or her time and effort to the proposed
research and career development activities. Individuals holding positions of senior
academic rank, such as associate professor or professor or the equivalent in non-
academic settings, at the time of application are not eligible for a K02 award. This
award will provide support for 5 years, however, the salary for the fourth and fifth
year is awarded only if the applicant competes successfully for a regular research
grant (R01). The K02 award provides up to $85,000 per year of salary support, and up
to $50,000 for research expenses.
Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24):
The K24 supports outstanding clinical scientists to allow them protected time to
devote to research and to act as mentors for beginning clinical investigators.
Candidates are expected to be generally within 15 years of their specialty training,
with a demonstrated need for a period of intensive research focus as a means of
enhancing their clinical research careers. Candidates must be committed to mentoring
the next generation of clinical investigators focusing on patient-oriented research.
Candidates must be willing to spend up to 50% effort (at least 25%) conducting
research and mentoring more junior colleagues. Applicants must have independent
research support at the time of application, and recipients of this award are
required to hold independent research support during the period of this award. The
project period may be up to 5 years (at least 3 are required). Awards are renewable
for one additional 5-year period if the candidate still meets the stated
requirements. The K24 award provides up to $80,600 (for 50% effort, based on the
current NIH salary cap of $161,200) per year of salary support, and up to $25,000 for
research expenses.
INQUIRIES
For detailed program descriptions, application procedures, eligibility, and access to
specific program announcements cited above, see the NINDS Training and Career
Development website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/research_training.htm.
Consultation with NINDS Program Staff is encouraged especially during the planning
phase of the application. For a listing of NINDS Scientific areas and Program Staff
contacts, see: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/funding_announcements/funding_opps.htm
Henry Khachaturian, Ph.D.
Training, Career Development, and Referral Officer
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 2154, MSC 9531
Bethesda, MD 20892
Phone: (301) 496-4188
FAX: (301) 594-5929
Email: [email protected]
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
|
| ||||||
|
|
|
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
|
|||
|
NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health® |
||||||